Currently, the LSAC website has tests scheduled in January, February, and April of 2021. But where are the test dates for later in the year? Will there be more 2021 LSAT dates posted soon? We’ve had a lot of questions lately from students who are anxiously waiting to see if there will be more dates, so let’s talk about what we will see. What Did LSAC Do In 2019 and 2020? In 2019, the LSAT was administered 7 times: January, March, June, July, September, October, and November. In 2020 we had 8 tests: January, February, May, June, July, late August, October, and November. Of course, 2020 was a … [Read more...]
Do I Need to Know Legal Terms to Do Well on the LSAT?
A common question most students ask themselves when deciding to take on the LSAT concerns the vocabulary the LSAT requires you to know to do well. Do you need an especially large vocabulary? Or perhaps a working knowledge of legal or logical terms? With this in mind, let's take a closer look and discover what you need to know before you take the LSAT.The good news is that most of the words you'll encounter on the LSAT are of the simple, everyday variety. This includes a wide range of words such as "city," "witness," or "fuel." Most native speakers won't find these terms challenging, and … [Read more...]
Law School Personal Statements: The Drafting is Never Done
At this time of year, many students are trying to write their personal statements. It can be incredibly tough, so don’t give up! Over the years I’ve read thousands of personal statement drafts, and I want to share one of the most important tips: When you think your draft is final, it’s not. That may seem overly harsh, so let me explain.The Goal is Perfection, and Perfection Takes Time I get it: writing about yourself is no fun and feels uncomfortable. Everybody feels that way. Once you recognize that it’s difficult for everyone, you have an advantage though. The typical applicant wants … [Read more...]
Number and Percentage (#%) LR Problem Tips
Are you having trouble with Number and Percentage Logical Reasoning problems? You're not alone! Number and Percentage problems can be among the most difficult, so the fact that they are giving you some trouble isn't unusual. They are likely to appear at least a few times on your test, so you'll want to make sure you have these ideas locked down. Here are some helpful suggestions to improve your #% performance, and several examples to make the ideas stick. Determine the Focus Make sure that the #s and %s that are used in the problem are the focus of the problem. The people who make the test … [Read more...]
Is the 2021 Law School Admissions Cycle More Competitive?
The 2021 law school admissions cycle is going to be extremely competitive. Due to an influx of new circumstances stemming from an incredibly unusual year, we are seeing law school applicant numbers rise significantly and you will have a lot of competition. So, let’s look at the four factors driving this cycle: 1. More Applicants and More Applications The total number of law school applications submitted so far is up 57%, and the number of applicants is up 32%. Of course there is always the chance that more students are simply applying earlier than ever and the number of total applicants will … [Read more...]
Can I Take the LSAT Instead of the GMAT to Apply to Business School?
Using a GRE score for application to MBA programs (in place of a GMAT score) has become standard practice in recent years as ETS (the makers of the GRE) has aggressively marketed the GRE as a substitute for the GMAT. That's great for GRE takers, but is there a way to use an LSAT score to get into business school, and thus skip taking the GMAT entirely? It turns out that there is--but, there is also a condition in place on using that LSAT score, so let's talk a bit more about the process. LSAT vs GMAT Because the LSAT and GMAT are very different exams, and typically used for very different … [Read more...]
The LSAT Is About To Get Harder
Any LSAT student reading the title above probably just felt their heart stop for a moment. I apologize for that! Fortunately, the LSAT won’t be getting harder immediately, but will likely be getting harder in the years to come. Let’s talk about why.Big Data is Everywhere The rise of Big Data has been widely discussed, usually in reference to social media and advertising. But with the dawn of the Digital LSAT and the launch of LSAC's own online testing site, the makers of the test now have a unique ability to see exactly what causes the greatest problems for students. In the old days of … [Read more...]
What Does -6, -7, -8, -9 Mean When Talking About the LSAT-Flex Curve
The shorthand reference of -6 to -9 refers to the number of questions you can miss on an LSAT-Flex to obtain a score of 170. It’s also a reflection of general test difficulty. Harder LSATs allow you to miss more questions whereas easier exams require you to miss fewer questions.After every LSAT-Flex, there is a discussion of the relative difficulty of the test. You often hear numbers such as -7 or -9 thrown around as indicators of the LSAT scale. These numbers refers to how many questions you can miss to score a 170. Historically, "regular" non-Flex LSATs allow test-takers to miss … [Read more...]
The LSAT Never Leaves You (That’s a Good Thing)
There have been plenty of articles written about LSAT thinking in the real world, and about how LSAT logic is used (and often abused) in everyday life. Those articles are all valid, and interesting, I think! But one thought I want to mention is that the thinking skills you learn while studying for the LSAT will stay with you, and benefit you well into the future. Logical Reasoning in Daily Life While I often think of the value of learning LSAT logic when explaining LSAT questions (or arguing with my sister, who could do with a thorough reading of the Logical Reasoning Bible), what … [Read more...]
Andy Murray’s Motivational Notes and the LSAT
During a tennis match in 2015 at the Rotterdam Open, a journalist snapped a picture of tennis star Andy Murray consulting a handwritten sheet between sets. As it turns out, the sheet contained a list of tactical and mental reminders for Murray during the match. Let's take a look at the list, and then talk a bit about how you can use something similar in your LSAT preparation to your advantage. For starters, here's the tweet from the journalist.https://twitter.com/wilfredgenee/status/567625102880436224In more direct form, the list reads as follows:Be good to yourself Try your … [Read more...]
Why Did My LSAT Score Go Down When I First Started Studying?
On occasion, I speak with students who experience a score decrease when they first start preparing for the LSAT. Despite putting in a fair number of study hours, they find that initially their score stays the same, or drops a few points. This can be an extremely distressing occurrence (to put it mildly), but it's actually quite normal, and even expected. So let's talk about why it happens, and what to do about it. But... Why? The first question is, why would such a thing occur? When you study a new topic, you learn more about it, and this new knowledge should translate into a better score. … [Read more...]
The Ultimate PowerScore LSAT Practice Test Resource List
Taking practice tests is one of the most important elements of preparing for the LSAT, but many students don't know the right way to take and review tests. In order to help you get the most out of each test that you take, we've compiled the many free resources PowerScore has and grouped them together into a comprehensive overview of the process. If there's something to be squeezed out of a test, you'll find it here! How to Take a Practice LSATThe Ideal Way to Take a Practice Test. An excellent overview of how to take a full LSAT PrepTest. 10 Steps to Taking LSAT Practice Tests. Ten … [Read more...]
Is LSAT Prep Worth the Cost?
On Reddit the other day I saw a comment that stuck with me: “The LSAT costs $200 so I don’t think I should pay more than that to prepare for it.” While on the one hand I completely understand the presumption that preparing for this test shouldn’t require much expenditure, on the other hand I also think that perspective only captures part of the picture. So let’s take a closer look!LSAT Prep Can Be Expensive Of all people, I’m well aware that LSAT preparation can be costly. We offer courses that cost over $1000 and have tutoring packages that run even higher than that. So there’s no … [Read more...]
Bruce Lee: Enter the LSAT
Most people are familiar with Bruce Lee. He was a martial arts master who became an actor, and when he died young at 32, he was already a superstar and cultural icon. But while most people know him for his martial arts movies, few know that he was also a philosopher and avid student of the mind. After his death, thousands of books were found in his house, with over 1500 marked up with detailed notes and comments. Lee wasn't just a heavy reader, he was also the author of multiple books, including writings on martial arts, poetry, philosophy, science, and positive thinking. Within those texts, … [Read more...]